Britain’s embassy in Tripoli says it has temporarily suspended its operations, with the government sending a ship to evacuate its nationals from the country.

Fighting around Tripoli's main airport has continued, with scores killed in recent days and rockets once again hitting an oil depot on Airport Road.

The recently-elected parliament has held its first session in Tobruq, away from fighting in Tripoli and Benghazi, but some politicians have challenged the choice of location.

Members of the House of Representatives have been arriving into Tobruq to attend the body’s first session.

Despite most foreign embassies withdrawing their staff in recent weeks, Britain and Italy say their diplomatic missions will remain open in Tripoli.

Spain and Cyprus are the latest countries to pull out of Libya.

A spokesman for the new House of Representatives says the first session has been relocated from Benghazi to Tobruq, in the far north-east of the country.

Heavy clashes between rival armed groups in Benghazi are reported to have killed at least 30 people in the past few days.

An armed group controlling Matiga airport prevented the prime minister from boarding a plane to Tobruq, highlighting the powerlessness of the interim government.

The two countries, which both have strong business links with Libya, advise nationals to leave the country and say they may close embassies.